FIFA Best Awards 2025: Ousmane Dembele Wins Men’s Player of the Year

The FIFA Best Awards 2025 took place in Qatar this Tuesday, marking a historic night for Paris St-Germain and French football. Ousmane Dembele officially claimed the Men’s Player of the Year trophy, effectively crowning him the best player in the world. This victory follows his Ballon d’Or win in September and highlights a season where he led PSG to a historic quadruple of trophies.

Dembele’s Dominance at the FIFA Best Awards 2025

Dembele’s performance during the 2024-25 season was truly extraordinary. Although he initially struggled for form, his season transformed after he moved to a central forward role. Because of this change, he recorded 51 goal contributions in 53 games for Luis Enrique’s side.

Furthermore, his impact in the Champions League was undeniable. He scored eight goals in the competition, including vital strikes against Liverpool and Arsenal during the knockout stages. Consequently, Dembele beat out Lamine Yamal and Kylian Mbappe to join legends like Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo on the winner’s list.

More Winners from the FIFA Best Awards 2025

PSG continued to dominate the ceremony as several other figures earned major recognition.

Luis Enrique: Coach of the Year

Luis Enrique won the Coach of the Year award after guiding PSG to their first-ever Champions League triumph. He successfully masterminded victories over European giants such as Inter Milan and Arsenal. Although he could not attend the ceremony personally, his assistant manager, Rafel Pol Cabanellas, accepted the award on his behalf.

Gianluigi Donnarumma: Best Goalkeeper

Similarly, Gianluigi Donnarumma secured the Goalkeeper of the Year award. Before his summer move to Manchester City, the Italian shot-stopper played a pivotal role in PSG’s domestic and European success. As a result, he finished ahead of Premier League stars Alisson Becker and David Raya to claim the trophy for the first time.

Stunning Goals and the FIFA World XI

The night also celebrated individual brilliance through the Puskas Award. Santiago Montiel won the honor for an incredible overhead kick scored in Argentina’s Primera Division. He becomes the second consecutive Argentine to win, following Alejandro Garnacho’s success in 2024.

Finally, the FIFA Best Awards 2025 revealed the Men’s World XI. While PSG dominated the lineup, Virgil van Dijk and Cole Palmer represented the Premier League in the elite squad. This recognition underscores the shifting power balance in European football as the new season progresses.

The 2025 FIFA World XI:

• GK: Gianluigi Donnarumma(PSG)

• DEF: Achraf Hakimi(PSG), Willian Pacho(PSG), Virgil van Dijk(Liverpool), Nuno Mendes(PSG)

• MID: Cole Palmer(Chelsea), Jude Bellingham(Real Madrid), Vitinha(PSG), Pedri(Barcelona)

• FWD: Lamine Yamal(Barcelona), Ousmane Dembele(PSG)

Santiago Montiel Wins the Puskas Award

The most beautiful goal of the year went to Santiago Montiel. The Independiente winger won the Puskas Award for a gravity-defying overhead kick against Independiente Rivadavia.

“I didn’t think about it, I just hit it,” Montiel said, becoming the second consecutive Argentine to win the award after Alejandro Garnacho.

Montiel’s acrobatic effort beat out a world-class free-kick from Arsenal’s Declan Rice.

What’s Next for Dembele?

While the trophies are piling up, Dembele isn’t slowing down. He has already tallied six goal contributions this season and is currently leading the French national team toward the next World Cup, where they are set to face Senegal and Norway in the group stages.

With an Intercontinental Cup final against Flamengo on the horizon, Dembele could add yet another trophy to his cabinet before the week is out.